Event Date
June 1st – 4th
Call Us
206-201-2943
Educate
The 420MSP Cannabis Tech Conference for MSPs features 4 days of educational sessions, covering key topics such as Cannabis Business 101, Compliance, Supply Chain Technology, Security, and more.
Network
Experience like-minded IT professionals during interactive sessions aimed at helping attendees shape and build lasting connections.
Influence
Attending the 420MSP Cannabis Tech Conference for MSPs puts you ahead of your competitors and gives you direct access to leading IT partners so you can work alongside them to shape the future of the industry.
BONUS: RECORDINGS
Don’t miss a minute of this conference, all sessions will be recorded and made avaliable ONLY to registered attendees
About the Conference:
You’ve Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers!
Finally, a dedicated intimate symposium to accelerate your entry into the hottest vertical in the North American economy right here right now.
Each panelist is an experienced subject matter authority in the cannabis technology vertical. Discover how to integrate the cannabis vertical into your Managed Services Provider (MSP) business model.
Our goal (and yours) would be to successfully enter the cannabis vertical within 90-days of attending. We’re at the start of a new decade and this will be a decade-long opportunity for MSPs who are driven to land, expand and reinvent.
Days
Speakers
Sessions
Jammed Packed Content
Agenda
- All time are based of ET
- Acess to all online session will be open 15 minuites prior to start time
| 4:20 pm |
Opening Address |
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| 4:30 pm to 5:20 pm |
Cannabis Business and Technology 101 Grab your seat and fasten your seat belt for this opening keynote. In order to extract maximum value from the two-day ANSWERS 20/20 conference, you need to have “comprehensive context” of the cannabis business and technology vertical. Otherwise you’d spend too much time trying to integrate abstract concepts to try and stitch everything together. Instead, the humorous and sometimes serious lecture looks at the history of cannabis, allowing you to discover core components and ends with defining the vertical opportunity (it’s surprisingly robust in more states than you might imagine including Oklahoma!) |
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| 5:20 pm to 6:20 pm |
Keynote: State of the Cannabis Business Vertical Is it the best of times, or the worst of times? Determining the current state of cannabis has always been challenging in an industry so fast-moving that many describe it as living in dog years. Recent highlights have included record sales levels, new state markets, expanded industrial hemp opportunities and cannabis businesses being deemed “essential”. Yet the decline of cannabis stocks, continued federal government gridlock and COVID-19 disruptions also raise concerns. In this session, Prof. Paul Seaborn will sort through these mixed signals to provide a clear picture of the cannabis business vertical and a roadmap to current and future opportunity. |
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| 6:20 pm to 6:30 pm | Break | |
| 6:30 pm to 7:10 pm |
Animals, MSPs and Cannabis Technology In Feb of 2018 my then 12 year old Yorkie, Cash, was diagnosed with Stage 4 bladder cancer that had spread to the prostate and was given 4 weeks to live. It was then that the Oncology team at VeterinaryCannbis.org started reviewing the current scientific literature on effective cannabis treatments for TCC. We often think of CBD when it comes to therapeutic cannabis use in pet patients. However, I learned that CBD is only one aspect in modulating the endocannabinoid system to achieve a greater state of homeostasis within the body. By taking the research of individual molecules found within cannabis to create a custom blended cannabis formula that was tailored specifically to Cash’s condition we were able to extend not only the lifespan but the quality of life for Cash beyond what anyone had expected.
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| 4:20 pm |
Welcome Address |
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| 4:25 pm to 5:20 pm |
Real World MSP Use Case Many IT service providers look at the exploding cannabis market as a massive opportunity and it is, but there’s a right way and a wrong way to go after it. Learn from an MSP who cracked the code and is now working with cannabis growers, manufacturers and retailers throughout California. Since recreational cannabis was approved in the state in 2016, Luis Alvarez and his company have been helping the cannabis industry, providing IT and security services, and he’s become a much sought-after expert in working with the cannabis industry. He’ll share his insights on how to capture the attention of the right players and seize this lucrative opportunity. |
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| 5:20 pm to 5:30 pm | Break |
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| 5:30 pm to 7:20 pm |
Compliance is King (to your Opportunities and Profits!) This lively expert panel discussion will help you position yourself as a cybersecurity and compliance authority. (This is worth more than the cost of the entire conference.) Compliance requirements and fear of penalties and lawsuits – even being shut down – keep business owners (not just in the cannabis business) from sleeping peacefully. That’s a huge opportunity for you to make money. But first you must be seen as a go-to trusted authority that can help business owners protect their brands, their reputations, and their assets. All businesses must protect HR info including Social Security Numbers, driver’s license info, and access to financial accounts. All businesses that take credit cards must comply with PCI. Cannabis businesses have added compliance requirements, ranging from video surveillance to privacy laws for medical marijuana to financial restrictions preventing their money from being deposited in federally-chartered banks. Some regulations also flow down to you as their IT support provider. Discover answers to questions like this:
The more you learn the more you earn! Panelist Moderator
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| 4:20 pm |
Welcome Address |
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| 4:25 pm to 6:20 pm |
Cannabis Technology Supply Chain and Product Stacks This panel divides the technology supply chain conversation into four elements. (1) Defining the seed-to-sale supply chain (a quick primer). (2) Traditional Line of Business applications (think BDR, etc.). (3) Specific cannabis technologies as a product stack that relates directly to cannabis entities in the supply chain. And finally (4) Specific technologies to the cannabis support services industry for non-cannabis entities (firms that don’t touch the flower). The insights shared are based on the actual experiences of Managed Services Providers (MSPs) and others who are “carrying the bag” and wearing the tool belt. Take notes! And when you leave this session, you’ll understand what digital fencing is in the cannabis vertical and why MSPs should care. SECRET: Bar codes baby!
Panelist Moderator |
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| 6:20 pm to 6:30 pm | Break |
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| 6:30 pm to 7:20 pm |
Marketing to the Cannabis Vertical Want to make money in the cannabis technology vertical? Then attend this spirited panel that is certainly expected to erupt into a debate. We’ll go around the horn with our panelist to discuss marketing and messaging wins and losses in building a credible cannabis technology vertical practice. The audience will hear from successful MSPs on how to target cannabis license holders (and how to get those lists). Plus the importance of an educational sales approach in the young industry. Paying your dues by attending local meetups (yes – your community has these groups, or you can create). And the importance of word of mouth referrals in this chaotic and fast changing world of cannabis businesses. SECRET: Lead with medical. SECRET: Target test labs for an early win. Panelist Moderator |
| 4:20 pm |
Welcome Address |
|
| 4:25 pm to 6:20 pm |
Security Matters in the Cannabis Vertical Security in Cannabis has traditionally been about physical security of fields/facilities/dispensaries and protecting product and cash in motion/transport. However, with 2020 upon us the combined factors of ransomware in the news and the complicated compliance requirements in every legal market are causing biz owners to realize they can’t achieve their goals without mature security practices in place. In this session we’ll explore both how MSP’s can help their cannabis clients with physical security (camera plans, access control, etc.) and how cybersecurity applies to their vertical. Panelist |
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| 6:20 pm to 6:30 pm | Break |
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| 6:30 pm to 7:20 pm |
Talking Stick Moderator |
Pricing
This is your opportunity to immediately join the hottest vertical in the North America economy right here right now, or be the first MSP ready when your state laws change!
| Registration Categories | Pricing | |
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Replay Conference
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$149.00 |
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Register early to get our “Early Bird” discount!
Even if you can’t attend live you will receive the recordings of all our sessions
Special Pricing
Discounts for the conference are available for groups of 3 or more, organized affiliated groups, such as user groups, technology groups and more. For more information and or to receive a discount code please email jenniferh@SMBNation.com with the following information:
- Name
- Affiliate group
- Company you work for
NOTE: These discounts cannot be combined with any other offer. All group discount registrations must be submitted from the same company within a 24 hour period.
Cancellations
If you are no longer able to attend this event, you may transfer your registration to another individual within your organization. Cancellation refunds will be allowed until April 30th, subject to a $50 processing fee. After May 1st, 2020, no refunds will be permitted.
Substitution Policy
If you are unable to attend, you can transfer your registration at the same rate to another person by notifying Jenny Hallmark in writing by email, fax, or mail by May 1st, 2020.
Who’s Speaking
Luis Alverez
President & CEO
of Alvarez Technology Group, Inc. (ATG)
Luis M. Alvarez is President & CEO of Alvarez Technology Group, Inc. (ATG), a technology services provider that delivers security, Internet-of-Things (IoT) and managed information technology solutions. ATG was founded in 2001 in Salinas, CA, in the heart of the fresh food agricultural sector and embraced IoT solutions early on, before the rest of the IT service industry, providing their clients with consultation and integration services. Taking advantage of the growing opportunity in the cannabis industry after the legalization of adult-use by California, Luis rolled out a new company division, Veo Verde Technology (www.veoverde.tech), dedicated to cannabusiness. Veo Verde Technology specializes in delivering a stack specifically tailored to the cannabis industry, including managed physical security, cybersecurity, IoT and industry-specific applications.
Harry Brelsford
CEO
SMB Nation and 420MSP
Harry Brelsford is the founder of SMB Nation (www.smbnation.com) from Bainbridge Island, Wash. He is a long-time SMB channel partner who has served customers and mentored other partners (SMB Nation has over 49,000 members who are Managed Services Providers (MSPs) and SMB technology consultants). He oversees the popular SMB Nation workflow including content and events (webinars, workshops and multi-day conferences).
He holds an MBA in Project Management from the University of Denver (and numerous certifications such as MCSE, MCT, CNE, et al) and is the author of 21 books on technology and business topics. His 20 years of SMB technology experience were supplemented by teaching 12+ years at night as an adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University and other higher-learning institutions. He served as the Dean in the Graduate School of Technology at Aspen University (where he was awarded a PhD in Letters).
Harry is an in-demand speaker at industry events. Harry’s recent books include the “How to Be an MSP” and he has published over 400-articles in business (Washington CEO, Colorado Business, Alaska Business Monthly) and technology magazine (ChannelPro, Microsoft Certified Professional magazine, etc.). An active entrepreneur, Harry is the force behind the Pocket MBA, Telephonation, Cloud Nation and XPmigrations.com. His latest startup is 420MSP.
Dan Foote
DanTech Services Inc operates from Anchorage, Alaska. His team works with the Alaska cannabis industry to protect its technology infrastructure, data, and users with a proven approach to security. The DanTech Services team provides support from the desktop to the cloud, to protect networks, data, and users.
Dan has also delivered presentations covering topics such as cybersecurity, business continuity, and cloud computing options. Taking the anxiety out of a business owner or manager’s mind is one of the deliverables that DanTech Services provides its Customers by keeping Computers Under Control!TM
Jim Roddy
Vice President of Marketing
Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA)
Jim Roddy is the Vice President of Marketing for the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA). He has been active in the IT channel since 1998, including 11 years as the President of Business Solutions Magazine, six years as an RSPA board member, one term as RSPA Chairman of the Board, and several years as a business coach for VARs, ISVs, and MSPs. Jim is regularly requested to speak at industry conferences and he is author of Hire Like You Just Beat Cancer.
Duane Roebuck
Sr. Marketing Channel Manager
Retail & IoT
Duane has been developing innovative solutions in a variety of industries for over 15 years.
As an early advocate within the Cannabis Industry, he has leveraged his knowledge to educate and inform resellers as to how they can help growers, producers, and retailers within the industry.
He has also developed relationships and helped to build channel strategies with compliance software providers and resellers; enabling them to collectively offer value-added, compliant solutions.
Duane has a Bachelor’s in Business Admin & Marketing from the University of Mt. St. Joseph as well as a Masters in Organizational Leadership and Graduate Certifications from Cornell University in Product Management & Design and Marketing Strategy.
Blake Schwank
CEO
Blake’s journey in technology started almost 40 years ago as a teenager when he and his father built a Heathkit 25” console television together. In 1988, Blake received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and was commissioned in the U.S. Army as a Medical Service Corps Officer. He served for eleven years from the Middle East to Alaska in healthcare administration and systems (IT) administration.
When Blake left the Army, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in information technology. In 1999, he worked as the IT director in a mobile technology software company. The company he joined rapidly grew from 30 to 150 employees in two years and eventually folded with only five after the dot-com bust. The downturn allowed Blake to stay on part-time which gave him the time and opportunity to venture out and work as an independent IT Consultant. It was during this time that he started Colorado Computer Support.
Paul Seaborn
Assistant Professor
Prior to joining UVA, he was an Assistant Professor at the Daniels College of Business, University of Denver where he developed extensive knowledge of the emerging legal cannabis industry in Colorado, Canada, and other locations. In 2014, he published one of the first teaching cases on the cannabis industry and in 2017 he created and taught the first-ever “Business of Marijuana” course at an accredited business school. Prof. Seaborn also serves as section editor for Commerce, Business, and the Environment for the Journal of Cannabis Research.
Mike Semel
CEO and Founder
35-year IT industry veteran; Hospital & K-12 School District Chief Information Officer (CIO); IT solution provider business owner; certified in HIPAA, Compliance, & Business Continuity Planning; nationally-recognized compliance consultant, speaker, and HIPAA courseware author.
Josh Weiss
Owner
Josh leads visionary IT company L.A. Creative Technologies in addition to DJing and producing music events. He has over a decade of experience in the technology and entrepreneurial worlds, with a deep understanding of the arts and the creative sector. This allows him to design digital strategies that connect industries and empower companies to overcome the demands that come along with business growth. As a result, he’s created products that offer a human-centered approach to digital infrastructure implementation.
L.A. Creative Technologies works primarily with the Cannabis, Architecture and Non-Profit verticals, but also takes care of other creative organizations throughout LA and the world. Josh’s experience in the Cannabis industry spans more than two decades sharing knowledge and working with colleagues & clients throughout California involved in growth, manufacturing, distribution, and retail.
Become a Sponsor
No more than 10 exhibitors 2 days
Extend the brand identity of your company’s products and services with a strong visible presence at the 420MSP Cannabis Tech Conference for MSPs.
Sponsorship at the 420MSP Cannabis Tech Conference for MSPs shows your commitment to the industry.
We have created sponsorship packages to assist you in reaching partner attendees with your message. The sponsorship opportunities brochure is designed to provide you with the information you need to allow your organization to choose your desired level of involvement and exposure to attendees.
For more information on conference sponsorship, please contact:
Harry Brelsford
Harryb@smbnation.com
206.201.2944
Who’s Sponsoring
RSPA
RSPA stands for Retail Solutions Providers Association. We are the only association connecting the Point of Sale technology ecosystem. Our members include resellers, distributors, hardware manufacturers, software developers, consultants and service providers who bring retail technology solutions to the marketplace.
More Information
Accessibility
SMB Nation strives to offer a productive learning environment for everyone at the 420MSP Cannabis Tech Conference. Attendees with accommodation requests can contact us – email: jenniferh@smbnation.com. Any information you provide will be shared only with those who require details to accommodate your request.
Reminders
- To view online attendee system requirments click here
- For help before, after, or during the conference please reach out to Jenny Hallmark at Jenniferh@smbnation.com or 206.201.2943
Register
Here’s what you get for the conference fee
Great speakers, content and time with the greatest technology minds around. We’ll make you smarter.
Book a personalized signed copy of Harry Brelsford’s book How to be an MSP.
Recording of all sessions to watch and or replay at a later date.
